Doctor Visit Tomorrow

[aweitzm1]

The past two months have been tiring. I am finally able to get back to reading all of the posts on here.


Thumper was bitten by a pit bull in the beginning of October. Luckily the dog only got his thigh and muscle area so not organ or major damage. He did need emergency surgery to repair the wound but all is better. I had to give him a really short cut as they shaved his leg and he looked weird with only one shaved leg and long hair.


Now we go tomorrow to the Orthopedic Surgeon to discuss his patella issue. (This was supposed to have happened last month but has been pushed back until Thumper fully recovered).


What are the opinions on having patella surgery on both knees? He is grade III but shows no signs of pain or discomfort.


My main vet feels I should have the surgery now before arthritis sets in when he is older.


My concern isn't so much the surgery but the recovery. I cannot take time off work at the moment to be with him 24/7 and I don't want to put him through the pain that accompanies surgery.


We just went through his surgery with the pit bull bite and that was exhausting enough trying to separate my two dogs and not licking the wound.

[ladyjane]

As I advised you in the past, I would never do surgery on an adult pup with luxating patellas that are not causing issues with him walking. I don't recall how old Thumper is. A lot of vets advise this surgery and sadly it is what I believe a money maker for them.... the problem with doing it in an adult is that the wear and tear on the cruciate ligament has already occurred. If they tear that ligament down the road, the poor pup is back in having knee surgery and it is very expensive on top of it. Young pups under the age of 2 is differnt...then if you repair the LP it is less likely you will have a tear of the CCL down the road. Of course it CAN happen, but less likely since the knee is not popping in and out.

Here is a link to the advice I gave you previously:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/4739478-post6.html